TACTILE FEEDBACK BUTTON FOR A HAZARD DETECTOR AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF
First Claim
1. A front casing of a hazard detector comprising:
- a body portion having an outwardly facing surface that faces a room within which the hazard detector is positioned and an inwardly facing surface that faces opposite the outwardly facing surface, the body portion being couplable with a back plate to define a housing having an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; and
a button portion coupled with the body portion via a plurality of arms that allow the button portion to be axially movable relative to the body portion so as to activate a switch positioned axially behind the button portion to provide input to the hazard detector from a user, the button portion having a plurality of tabs that extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of the button portion;
wherein each tab is positioned under and contacts the inwardly facing surface of the body portion such that when a force is applied to the button portion at a position substantially offset from a central axis of the button portion, the button portion pivots about one or more contact points between the tabs and the inwardly facing surface of the body portion; and
wherein the plurality of arms are coupled with the button portion and the body portion so as to bias the button portion axially outward relative to the body portion to press the plurality of tabs against the inwardly facing surface of the body portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a casing of a hazard detector includes a body portion and a button portion. The button portion is coupled with the body portion via a plurality of arms. The arms allow the button portion to be axially movable relative to the body portion and also couple the button portion with the body portion so that tabs that extend radially outward from the button portion are positioned under and contact an inwardly facing surface of the body portion. The arms bias the button portion axially outward relative to the body portion so as maintain contact between the tabs and the inwardly facing surface. In this configuration, when the button portion is pressed at a position off-axis from a central axis of the button portion, the button portion pivots about one or more contact points between one or more tabs and the inwardly facing surface.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A front casing of a hazard detector comprising:
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a body portion having an outwardly facing surface that faces a room within which the hazard detector is positioned and an inwardly facing surface that faces opposite the outwardly facing surface, the body portion being couplable with a back plate to define a housing having an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; and a button portion coupled with the body portion via a plurality of arms that allow the button portion to be axially movable relative to the body portion so as to activate a switch positioned axially behind the button portion to provide input to the hazard detector from a user, the button portion having a plurality of tabs that extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of the button portion; wherein each tab is positioned under and contacts the inwardly facing surface of the body portion such that when a force is applied to the button portion at a position substantially offset from a central axis of the button portion, the button portion pivots about one or more contact points between the tabs and the inwardly facing surface of the body portion; and wherein the plurality of arms are coupled with the button portion and the body portion so as to bias the button portion axially outward relative to the body portion to press the plurality of tabs against the inwardly facing surface of the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15)
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10. A front casing of a hazard detector comprising:
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a body portion having an outwardly facing surface that faces a room within which the hazard detector is positioned and an inwardly facing surface that faces opposite the outwardly facing surface, the body portion being couplable with a back plate to define a housing having an interior region within which components of the hazard detector are contained; and a button portion coupled with the body portion via a plurality of arms that allow the button portion to be axially movable relative to the body portion, the button portion being coupled with the body portion so that one or more tabs that extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of the button portion are positioned under and contact the inwardly facing surface of the body portion; wherein when a force is applied to the button portion substantially off-axis from a central axis of the button portion, the button portion pivots about one or more points of contact between the one or more tabs and the inwardly facing surface of the body portion; and wherein the plurality of arms couple the button portion to the body portion such that the button portion is biased axially outward relative to the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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16. A method of making a casing having a pressable button portion, the method comprising:
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forming a casing component having; a body portion comprising an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface opposite the outwardly facing surface; a button portion comprising a plurality of tabs that extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of the button portion; and a plurality of arms that attach the button portion to the body portion with the plurality of tabs being positioned axially outward relative to the inwardly facing surface of the body portion, the plurality of arms allowing the button portion to be movable relative to the body portion; and repositioning the button portion relative to the body portion so that the plurality of tabs are positioned axially inward of the inwardly facing surface of the body portion; wherein repositioning the button portion causes the plurality of arms to bias the button portion axially outward relative to the body portion so that the plurality of tabs press against the inwardly facing surface of the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of making a casing having a pressable button portion, the method comprising:
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forming a casing component having a body portion and a button portion, the casing component being formed such that one or more tabs that extend radially outward from a peripheral edge of the button portion are positioned axially outward relative to an inwardly facing surface of the body portion; and repositioning the button portion relative to the body portion such that the one or more tabs of the button portion are positioned axially inward of the inwardly facing surface of the body portion; wherein repositioning the button portion relative to the body portion causes the one or more tabs to be biased radially outwardly against the inwardly facing surface of the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification